Aluminum oxide media

I got quoted a few places for $6 bucks a pound. I read that you need ~20lbs to tumble a tank $120 total for media?

I also found on McMaster they sell it pretty cheap, but I don’t know what size. Any recommendations on size/mesh?

Thanks for the help. I’m building a tumbler and before I start just want to know how to get my hands on media.

Thanks all

Aluminum Oxide Grit
18-50 36
25-70 46
35-100 60/70
35-100 60
45-140 80
70-270 120
70-270 120
80-325 150
80-400 180
100-450 220
120-450 220

Mesh sizes and grit sizes are confusing, but what you're looking at on McMaster's site above are small sizes for blasting, not the larger size for tumbling.

In 2001, I paid $0.70 per lb for #6 aluminum oxide media (chips) from an abrasives supplier in Massachusetts. (50-lb bag). No shipping was needed, so it was a great deal.

That was US #6 MESH size, meaning the material was screened with a mesh with 6 openings per linear inch, yielding nothing bigger than about 0.130" average cross-section, random-shaped chips. It is considered "coarse" media.

Here's a particle size chart that might be helpful:

I've just Googled, but couldn't find any suppliers of aluminum oxide chips of #6 mesh size. My internet search in 2001 was also difficult and I didn't find this media until phone contacts led to a distributor.

You're close to industrial areas and I'm sure someone will point you to a supplier.

By the way, I'd recommend getting 50 pounds of media. I put almost all of that amount into a steel HP120 to reach a little more than half-full, which seems to tumble the ends well.